Dried paints.

by Bear

Rating: mature
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Octavia, Sex, Slice of Life, DJ P0N-3
Length: 11858

Having the world on your hoof doesn't mean much when you're tied up on a mare...

(No solid clop, Sorry folks.)

Having the world on your hoof doesn't mean much when you're tied up on a mare, as Ink has started to realize. What's the point of everything, if you're not happy?

The description sounds pretty emo, and the story it's self is probably pretty emo, but I promise that it's not all doom and gloom. I started this on a different account, but decided to cut all ties with aforementioned file, and did it here.

Tags and characters will be added as the story progresses

The story is also going to be filled with multiple points that may be stale or dull to some reader. Just a disclaimer. I'm trying out the writing style.

A love story, I guess. It starts out kinda depressing, but as it progresses, I promise that things stop being so dark.

Editing credit goes to the Lovely Mr. Spalding! Go give his stuff a read, wouldja? Cover art by him as well.

Published 2013-01-10 02:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-23 22:36:15 UTC

The bad beginning.

"We're over. It's done. I don't feel how I used to; I really haven't in a long time. I'm sure you understand, don't you? You had to have sensed this coming. I've been so uneasy lately...". Even these words flowed beautifully out of her mouth, coupled with that accent that would beat a river of silk in a softness contest. Here he was, getting broken up with, and it was all he could do not to get lost in her voice. A problem he'd had since Vinyl had introduced him to the posh grey mare.

Words continued to flow from her mouth, no doubt conveying a message he had understood after the first four words. At this point, he was just drawing it out; giving him as much as possible in the end. She was right in saying that he had sensed this coming. In fact, he'd sensed it coming for a long while. The love making wasn't as passionate, the touches less frequent. But here, at the end of it all? The words were still just as sincere. That melodious voice that he had fallen for over a year ago hadn't changed. And yet, there wasn't a single part of him that was happy to hear it. Not like he usually was.

His hooves felt iced to the ground, unable to so much as shiver in the cold winter air as he watched his love trot away. She looked so confident, a slight cockiness ever-present in her strut. She moved softly, hooves barely audible on the frozen pathway. This was it, the end had come. Somehow, it had been expected to end like this. He was little more than a regular unicorn, whereas she was a virtuoso of the strings. Two worlds had come together for this one, and as it ended, his was the one that was left crumbling down.

His eyelids slid open, baby blues dilating and coming into to focus. He turned his attention to the clock on the other side of the room, a pale aura enveloping it as the hammer was stilled. Silence settled over the room, a blanket thicker than the ones he had taken place under. He lied for a while, thoroughly contemplating sliding back into the depths of dreams.

Against his better judgement, he slid silently from under his mass of coverings, his hooves clacking softly against the hardwood as he gained his bearings. He fidgeted uncomfortably in the cold room, trying to let his body adjust to the sudden change in temperature. He shook his mane out, sweeping it off to the side, failing horribly in his attempts to keep it out of his face; the thick black mess settling at it's own leisure .

His hoofsteps echoed quietly in the still room, a sense of sterility permeating in the air. He made his way to the mirror, a simple part of his routine. As usual, he was unpleased at the face staring back at him. His mane was the color of luna's sky, awkwardly framing his face, and contrasting heavily against his snow white fur. The parts he was happy about, took the form of the plethora of piercings that he wore. Stretched ears, pierced lips, pierced cartilage, and tri-pierced eyebrows; the few things that he was actually happy with on that face of his. He stuck his tongue out, grinning happily at the newly-pierced flesh starting back at him.

Realizing that he had been wasting time, he snapped back to focus, trotting quickly out of his room. His hooves were silenced on the rug that was laid outside, muffled trotting echoing quietly in the empty hall. He stopped a few doors down, happily entering his expansive washroom. The marble clicked loudly under his hooves, a sound that he greatly enjoyed. He had picked this marble for that specifically, remembering the lesson that she had taught him about the differences in stone.

He stiffened up, a slight groan escaping his lips as the memory came and left. His thoughts traveled back to the dream that he had reluctantly been subjected to. It had been almost eight months since that frosty winter day; a fact that mortified him. Even his friends had commented on his failure to move on, trying their damnedest to set him up with other mares (and even a stallion, after a long night of drinking!). Obviously, it had all been a big failure, and after a while, they stopped trying, content to let him work at his own pace.

He shook the thoughts off, stepping up to the huge basin that sat in the floor, his magic turning knobs and drawing water. Setting it to the same turns that he had for the two months that he had owned the house, he let the steaming water fill the tub. Content that the tub was adequately filled, he shut the valves, dipping a hoof into the water. He shifted into the water, filling quickly with bliss as the hot water embraced him. He felt the warm water work at his muscles and joints, phasing out pains and knots in his flesh. He simmered for a while, before eventually deciding to get to work at washing himself.

He stepped out of the steaming pool, drying his hooves on the towel laid out along the edge. He levitated another over, drying his fur with the expensive textile. He shook out his mane, content to let it dry further in the air. Making his way to the thick stone counter, he rushed a brush through his thick mane, gritting his teeth as the brush caught on snag after snag. He did the best he could, eventually left with a slick black mane that ran down to the middle of his fore-legs.

The carpet once again muffled the sound of his light hoofsteps as he made his way to the larger part of his home. While the back was pretty well done, the majority of the house was a large open space that was never finished during construction. The room now, however, was filled with a menagerie of art supplies, ranging from simple canvases, to paints made from multi-thousand bit materials. A small table sat in the middle of the room, a small pile of mail sitting atop.

"I guess Vee was already here this morning,", Ink said to himself, levitating a small knife, and opening one of the letters. Vee (commonly known as Vinyl Scratch), was the mare that was living in the lower levels of his expansive home. She spent most of her time in the sound-proof depths, coming up every once and a while to get the mail, or talk with record company affiliates. She hadn't found her "Big break" yet, but she hadn't given up yet, and for that, He was proud. She didn't pay rent, and that was just fine with him; She kept the lower level alive.

He unfolded the paper in front of him, setting the enclosed check to the side as he read the drull text; words that he had heard a hundred times over (and probably ten times already this week).

Dear Mr. Blotter,

We are pleased to inform you that your most recent piece of work has sold in our gallery, for the sum of 100,000 bits. We have taken off our 20% sales fee, and included the remainder in the enclosed check. We thank you for your business, and hope that you remember us when your next work is ready to be sold.

Sincerely,

Feather Pen, EAGA head

He looked to the check that he had set aside, noting the amount of "80,000 bits" that was printed. A part of him was disappointed; his works usually sold for much more. It was no matter to him, though. The name Ink Blotter was a household name in the art, classical music, and literature fields. Having over 300 paintings, 70 published books, and 24 symphonies written, it was no wonder how he had become such a highly regarded figure. And yet... It was nothing to him.

He decided against opening the rest of the mail, the emptiness already starting to set in. It was a pretty typical thing, but that didn't mean that he wasn't bothered by it. After all, his works had simply been done to distract him. He chuckled at the thought, dismissing it as quickly as it came. This was what he did, wasn't it? Art was the reason he had gotten his cutie mark when he was just a colt, so that certainly must be true.

The unicorn turned, gazing through his thick bangs at his newest "masterpiece". He scoffed at the word; nay, the very idea of it. Each painting of his was dark in concept, the bright colors vividly hiding the grim details below. People smiled and looked in awe at his marred canvases, not taking the time to digest the whole of it. The few who had, however, He had quickly become his most devoted followers. Though, those "Devoted followers" of his, were certainly an odd bunch.

Lurching back into reality, he absentmindedly levitated a small paintbrush. He filled his tray with paints, the chromatically aligned mediums shining in the light. He dipped his brush in, slowly beginning the soft waltz that was his art. His brush danced to the tempo, each gentle stroke adding more for the canvas to follow. He reveled in being the lead, the position simply empowering him to work more at finishing his off-kilter work.

When at last the dance had subsided, and he set his paintbrush to rest, he found himself in an almost blackened room, save for the effects of a candle or two. He rubbed his hooves together, regaining his bearings as he went about lighting the remainder of the room. A short while later, and the entire expanse had been lit; the hundreds of candles that lined the walls all burning with a bright light.

The clock on the wall sang the time, chiming eight continuous rings, before returning to it's quiet 'tick-tock'. He sighed, lamenting another day that had been lost to his art, and another day of things that he didn't end up getting done. He made his way towards the back of the house, hooves clicking on the wood in time to a faint thumping coming from the floor below. "Vee must have guests", he mused; completely apathetic to strangers being in his home.

The kitchen was situated just next to his room, purposely placed in the finished portion of the house. Hooves happily clicking along the tile, Ink made his way to one of the thick, black, counter tops. He fished around; finding, measuring, pouring, and mixing assorted herbs, spices, a dash of honey, and dark tea leaves. He set the kettle to the stove top, turning the dial with the precision of a royal sniper. He let the water heat, staring off into Luna's sky through his eyelet window.

When at last the water was heated, he introduced his earlier mixture; the two mixing harmoniously into the dark drink that he had so desired. A cup was already prepared as he tipped the kettle. He filled it half way before adding milk to the mixture; the thick black turning into a warm brown. He smiled fondly, sipping his heavenly mixture.

A few bliss filled minutes later, and Ink had finally finished his tea. He sat his cup into the wash basin, deciding to leave it to be washed later. He stretched himself, again trying (in vain) to pull the mess that was his mane into some kind of order. Huffing in frustration, he decided that he needed to distract himself. Becoming suddenly re-aware of the heartbeat tempo coming from underhoof. "Perfect", he muttered; quickly trotting to see what the shut-in mare was up to.

A technicolor confession.

A technicolor confession.

As he trotted down the dark stairwell, the music gradually began to assault his ears. Once he was at the bottom of the step, face to face with the door, it was almost unbearable. He may have muttered something along the lines of "Well, at least it's good...", but it was lost to anyone who may have heard him. He opened the door, physically being assaulted by the heavy waves of crushing bass. The treble cut through him like a pissed off hitmare with a scimitar, making this experience all the more unpleasant.

He stepped inside, flattening his ears as he closed the door. Vinyl's expanse was as it always was; Trashed, wreaking of smoke, and lit by intense neon lights. A small circle of couches sat in the middle of the room, sitting atop a massive speaker setup. It was easily two feet from the floor, and clearly vibrating to the brutal speakers. A Choppy mane could be seen from behind, in colors that could only mean that he had found who he was looking for.

Maneuvering through the horrid expanse, He eventually made his way to the center platform. He could feel his bones ache, and his organs felt ready to burst from the sheer pressure that was being expelled from the giant speakers. He placed his hoof upon one of the stacks, pulling himself up onto the platform. He flipped over the back of the couch, sliding (somewhat uncomfortably) close to the Mare that he was looking for. She glanced over with a blush, her muzzle a literal inch from his own. It didn't take her long to look away, her blush growing heavier.

She elbowed him in the ribs, nodding his attention toward the word document that had been pulled up. "What the hay are you doing down here? You tend to avoid me!", the screen displayed in a swirly green font. He shrugged, hoping that the gesture would be enough to sate her curiosity. She shook her head, her bluish still visible under the heavy neon lights. The typed for a bit, turning him back to the screen once more.

"The mare across from us is my friend Vet. She's a Dj, like me." was displayed promptly on the screen. He glanced over, meeting the young mare's stare. She was a pale orange (or at least, the lights made it look like she was), with a long mane that framed her face. Her eyes were thickly rimmed with eyeliner, giving more definition to the dark pools that dwelled within. Ink nodded at her, eliciting a blush from this mare as well. He sighed slightly, turning back to Vinyl. He practically screamed in her ear, his voice coming across as hardly a whisper.

"How long's she staying for?", he screamed over the keyboard that was dominating frequencies. Vinyl just shrugged, a small grin on her face. She typed for a few moments, pausing once in what looked like indecision. Ink returned the message on the screen with a blank stare, unsure of how to answer it. "Why? Inky interested?

Ink's head was filled with all forms of emotion. Annoyance, indecision, sadness, and fear all walked unchecked in his head. He looked over at the mare, who was now sipping from a small glass that had been sitting on the table in front of them. He watched as the neon green liquid slowly spilled into her open mouth, fascinated by the hue of the drink. She smiled at him, the glow still somewhat evident on her teeth. A wave and a wink soon followed, causing Ink to blush slightly.

After a while, he eventually deduced that the drinks were some form of liquor. This was figured out after Vet and Vinyl had spent an hour or two tossing back, both of whom became very.... touchy. Before he knew it, he found himself under a piss drunk pair of mares, who seemed to be making out on top of him. Literally on top of him, mind you.

It didn't take the pair long to turn their attention elsewhere. They eyed Ink hungrily, who returned the gaze with one full of fear. The last time he'd been around a drunk Vinyl, Ink had literally been forced to push the drunk Dj off of him, much to the young mare's displeasure. Vinyl bit her lip, moving ever so slowly towards the socially awkward painter. He watched as She took a drink of the neon liquid, holding it in her mouth for some unknown reason.

The reason was soon known, as Vinyl forced her lips onto his. She wrenched his mouth open, spilling the drink into his mouth. He swallowed the liquid, his throat burning as it slowly slid down. Ever the lightweight, Ink found himself slightly buzzed from this single shot. He sighed unhappily as Vinyl pulled away, only to sigh happily as she returned her lips. This was repeated over and over, eventually shredding Ink of any for of self control that he may have had.

"Fuck it", he thought. "I can make a few bad decisions every now and again."

The short statement was heavily regretted the second Ink woke up. He disposed of his stomach contents (into the conveniently placed trashcan!) next to him, wiping the highly alcoholic stomach acid from his lips. The room was quiet now, the playlist evidently reaching it's end. He tried to get up from his spot, surprised when he met resistance

His eyes stretched in shock when he realized the source. A certain white unicorn was laying on top of him, perched in a way that sent a slight shiver down his spine. Vinyl's area was directly over his; a sticky feeling seemingly gluing the two together. As if on cue, he felt her stir, wincing as she yawned loudly. Apparently sound was uncomfortable to a hungover Ink. Who'd have guessed?

She placed her hooves on either side of him, removing herself from atop him. She grinned widely, looking down at Ink with her crimson eyes. "Damn Ink, that was fantastic!", the young Dj cooed; a statement that sent yet another shock down his spine. He tried to manage a reply, but found himself unable to; the words catching painfully in his desert-dry throat.

Vinyl trotted softly to the other couch, nuzzling into the other mare. Ink tried not to notice where the mare's right hoof was; his failure apparent as his face heated up. The tangerine mare groaned softly, opening her dark eyes to star into Vinyl's blood red ones. She yawned softly, pulling her hoof off of herself with a sticky sound. She stretched out, shaking her mane as she relaxed her muscles. She looked over at Ink, grinning Slyly as her eyes met his. Her quiet demeanor was shattered when she spoke; her voice completely unfitting.

"Vinyl! You have to let me have a round with your coltfriend here!" she practically shouted, causing Ink to wince once again. He practically felt his face heat up at her words, a fact that seemed true for Vinyl as well. "H-h-he's... Not my coltfriend, Vet!", she stuttered out, turning away from her friend to stare sadly at Ink. The stare made Ink slightly uncomfortable; something he voiced very quickly.

"I'm... uh.... I'mna go...", he said quietly. He stood up, stumbling before he gained balance. He jumped from the couch, landing awkwardly in a pile of Vinyl's... "Stage wear". He shook a thin red thong off of his hoof, beginning his trek upstairs. He dodged over empty bottles and food wrappers, before eventually coming to the door. He gave the room a look back, catching Vinyl's sad stare once again. She mouthed three words that he couldn't quite make out, before blushing heavily and turning back to her friend. He stepped from Vinyl's room, happy to be back in his tamer part of the house.

Ink stepped from the bathtub, expensive textile at the ready to dry the artist off. He ran through his usual steps, the repetition in routine bringing a sense of comfort to his disheveled and troubled mind. Waves of turmoil rocked through the ocean of thoughts that inhabited his skull, threatening to drown the small crew aboard the E.S.S Sanity.

His hooves clicked on the marble below as he made his way to the counter; each small sound sending volts of pain through his head. The silence of the room had made him temporarily forget his raging hangover; a fact that only made re-discovering it all the worse. He braced himself against the lavish counter top, quickly pressing a hoof to his temple. He ran it in circular motions; a vain attempt at quelling the cannon fire that was taking place on the stormy seas in his head.

Placing his hooves on the marble counter top, he waited until he had regained his composure. He opened his eyes slowly; the dull lights bordering comfortable. The mirror told Ink the same tale that it did ever morning, answering his blank stare with it's own. He frowned, just like he did every morning. Again, he ran his eyes over the dead looking stallion that stared back at him. And, again, nothing had changed. He still hated the face that stared back at him, the dead eyes staring blankly into his. He ran a hoof through his hair, another attempt to tame the lion's mane that framed his face.

He pulled away from the mirror, taking a moment to gain his hoofing on the marble underneath. When at last he was satisfied that he was "okay", he slowly made his way to the bedroom that sat across the hall. The door opened quietly on well-oiled hinges, letting him into the space that was his own. He took a moment to drink the room in, finding peace in it's ability to remain the same. "Nothing else does...", he muttered to himself.

Trotting to the half-moon chair that sat so ill-fittingly in the corner of the room, he found a comfortable position. The fuzzy black fabric parting around him, allowing him to sink deeper and deeper into the seat. This was his thinking chair; an unreachable place that connected for only him. This chair was his haven, a venerable heaven in his lavish hell. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to reach Zen. That was, zen until his mind caught up with him.

What had that look meant? What had Vinyl tried to say? The sad look that swam through her crimson eyes still burned in the back of his head. He thought about it for a moment, finally coming to the conclusion that he'd have to go and talk to her about it. "But what if she's mad...? What if she doesn't want to talk to me..?", he muttered to the empty room. He shook his head; wild mane settling long after he stopped.

He rose from his lime throne, sighing slightly as his muscles protested. He had actually been in the chair much longer than he'd have suspected, quickly putting strain on his under-used muscles. He chuckled, taking a moment to stretch before trotting in a small circle. His hoof-steps echoed quietly along the walls of the room, slightly bothering the hungover Ink. He gathered himself, stepping from his room.

He felt the air grow heavier as he approached the art space; The thin, wispy smoke that hung slightly in the air doing nothing to help the fact. With caution, the artist made his way into his circular expanse, highly surprised at who stood within. A shade-less Vinyl stood silently, the slight smoke rising from her obviously forgotten cigarette as she gazed upon Ink's most recent work. She stood unblinking; Crimson eyes fixed upon the massive canvas in front of her. "I can see why you're as successful as you are..." She started; The noise catching Ink completely off guard. The pair sat in silence again, each content to leave the heavy air unbroken.

A small noise came from Vinyl; completely shattering the air. Another choked sob rang out before Ink picked up on what was actually going on. Without thinking, he shot towards her, engulfing her in his embrace. She was quick to return the gesture; Her fore-hooves tightly wrapping around him. She pressed into him, crying quietly into his hair. Each sob shot through him; Vinyl's sudden lurches unnerving him even further.

An hour passed before Dj finally closed the floodgates, effectively stopping her crying. She retained her hold on him, tightening ever-so-slightly as the time passed. The stood in silence; neither wanting to be the one to break the hug. Ink didn't know why hugging Vinyl made him felt so.... happy... But it did.

Wait... Happy?

HAPPY?

Ink shot away from Vinyl with a look of terror, completely unaware how to deal with this situation. Vinyl sighed, landing swiftly on her fore-hooves as gravity finally took her down. Her eyes were edged with tears; a sight that stung Ink down to his very core.

"I guess you're probably wondering what the deal is..." Vinyl muttered, avoiding the Artist's still mortified gaze. He tried to respond, only to find the words catch glass in his bone-dry throat. She slowly inched forward, maintaining her staring contest with the hardwood floor. When at last she stopped to look up, The two were inches apart.

Muzzles sat mere inches apart; a fact that Ink was scared to think about. Her technicolor mane mixed with his own to create a high contrast, easily worthy of a spot in galleries across Equestria. He stared wordlessly into her eyes; The bloody sea threatening to crush whatever willpower he had. He loved those eyes...

A slight blink from the mare brought him crashing back to reality; A metaphorical anchor to bring him from the depths of the endlessly red sea. It didn't take long for Vinyl to continue, letting Ink hear what he had wanted to hear for so long. "

"Hey Ink? You know... That I...", she clammed up, a single tear falling down her face. She quickly stopped him when he shifted to try and quell her; catching Ink off guard. "...I...I...I love you, Ink blotter. I love you.... I love you so damn much!" She was practically screaming by the time she finished. Tears streamed down her face as she moved forward, quickly beginning to drip onto Ink as she tackled him to the ground.

She loomed over him, sobbing quietly as she stood. He felt her tail slowly snake around his, sending slight shivers down his back. He was powerless to stop her as she slowly lowered herself. She nuzzled into him, gently finding her place among the mess of black hair that had spilled onto the floor. He felt her breathe along his neck; the slight sensation quite akin to a high-powered wire.

When at last she was content in her positioning, she began to trace circles along Ink's chest. He felt her soft hooves on his skin as he slowly recovered from the shock of the initial impact. "Vinyl, What the F-". He started; quickly finding himself silenced by Vinyl's soft lips.

The kiss was desperate and sloppy; a fact resulting from a hormone high mare, and a horribly unskilled stallion. Eventually, Ink just retreated to "letting it happen" status, content to let Vinyl take the lead in the rough piece of heaven that the two current sat in. He felt her tongue side into his mouth, quickly rushing to meet it with his own.

The taste was certainly unlike anything Ink had ever experienced before. Halitosis, strong liquor, cigarettes, and various other (usually unpleasing) substances sat dominant on her pallet, miserably failing to hide the sweeter undertones that were evident. Eventually, the less-than-ideal taste was honey to him. He craved more, quickly taking the lead from Vinyl. He twirled his tongue around her own, savoring each motion. He opened his eyes, surprised to see Vinyl's open as well. Her eyes were heavily glazed over, a fact that he had somehow overlooked. Her kisses began to include light moans, a fact that was enjoyed.... Until she started running her hooves along his back.

Quickly realizing where the situation was headed, Ink broke the kiss. "Vinyl, wai-". Again, she cut him off with the desperate kiss. Many more times, he tried in vain; eventually growing annoyed. He pulled back, putting his hoof up to stop Vinyl from falling back onto him. "Vinyl. Seriously. We need to stop this.", he growled out; a motion that was met with little response. He began to slide out from under her when he lost his pressure on Vinyl, letting her fall on to him. Instead of aiming for his lips, she was content to fall to his side.

"Just... please... Don't leave me be tonight... I can't handle it, Ink! I can't fucking handle it anymore! Every time I see you, I just lose it. Do you have any idea how hard it was to see my friend with the Stallion I've had my eyes on since we were fillies?". She choked out a sob, pausing to catch her breath before continuing again.

“And... And... She knew! She knew exactly what she was doing...”. Ink felt Vinyl choke down another sob, obviously desperate to contain herself. “I hated myself, Ink... I hated myself for being so happy... You came home crying... And I just... I was so happy... I held you... And it... It just... felt... Right...”. With that, Ink felt the floodgates open, wrapping his hooves around Vinyl in a desperate attempt to comfort her.

Ink felt his mane and neck grow wet, an obvious side effect to having a sobbing mare atop you. He stayed quiet, letting Vinyl “get it all out”. He ran his hoof through her mane, attempting in vain to calm her down. He felt her sob and shudder against him; her body writhing against his.

Ink did what he had deemed appropriate for the situation: Nothing. Keeping the hoof in her mane at a constant pace, Ink slowly started to drift to sleep. He managed to keep himself awake; hard floors below making the task a simple one. When at last Vinyl had stopped crying, he was on the edge again, teetering between the lands of sleep and waking. He barely managed to catch the last words that Vinyl spoke as she fell into her own state of sleep; a smile growing on his face as he slowly slipped under.

“Hey Ink..? I love you.”

Author's Note

Alrighty there!

So, before I get any comments about the rushed romance, and lack of a back story,
I'm going to tell you that it'll all be explained in chapter 3.
"It'll all be explained in chapter 3"

Feedback on the story is greatly desired!

-Vetter Sonata

Dreams pt 1

Dreams pt 1

Vinyl walked through the snow, the horribly familiar air making her nauseous. The air was thick with smoke; a bright fire blazing just out of vision. The snow crunched softly underfoot as Vinyl moved forward, desperately holding back her lunch. She knew exactly where she was, and what this was. Sure, it was a dream.

That didn’t make things any better. Far from it.

She lowered her thick-rimmed glasses as she approached the house, the dark lenses shielding her eyes from the raging inferno that towered above her. She watched in horror as the house before her burned; a single tear trailing from underneath her glasses.

She watched the fire burn for what felt like hours, completely content to stare into the flames that consumed her dreams yet again. This was a dream that she frequently had; one that had haunted her since that fateful day. Many a night she found herself, tossing and turning; sleep eluding her.

She stared into the flames; a pathetic look sitting on her visage. A small noise came from somewhere to her left, alerting her that the dream was beginning to progress. She turned her gaze two the two dark forms that sat at the end of the drive; wincing slightly as they came closer to where she was standing. Another tear spilled from her eyes as the pair approached, dripping onto the snow below.

Vinyl stared at the mare in front of her; a spitting image of herself. In fact, it was herself, in a sense. Vinyl noted the crazy blue mane that hung down to her forehooves; the trademark hairstyle absent in this younger version of herself. She watched sadly as the younger Vinyl screamed; throwing open the door, completely against the loud warnings coming from behind her.

This was always the part that she wanted to wake up. This was always the part she wanted to forget. She watched as the younger Ink’s eyes grew wide; the light from the fire shining against his dark irises. A loud crash could be heard just out of view, causing the younger form of Ink to scream.

She didn’t need to turn and look. She knew exactly what had happened.

She did however, turn to follow her friend; once more wincing as he stopped in front of the collapsed door. She sighed slightly as she watched him try and raise the charring wood, only to gash himself on a part of the door frame. He tried to use magic, failing miserably in his attempts to clear a path. Vinyl found herself crying once more as she watched Ink turn to the window; her eyes growing wide as he stepped back.

The glass of the window shattered around Ink as he dove through, biting into him deeply as he found himself within the confines of the burning wreckage of his younger friend’s home. He ground his teeth; his magic enveloping the long shard of glass as it slowly slid from Ink’s side. Blood poured from the wound as he ran, his coat quickly growing stained. The young artist searched the ground floor of the house, a desperate attempt to find his friend.

The older Vinyl walked through the collapsed door frame; the laws of the natural world uneffective in this deepest of dreams. She stepped over a burning beam, quickly trying to follow Ink as he stormed up the stairs to the second story of the house. She felt the stairwell collapse behind her as she stepped onto the second floor; the carpet melting underhoof as she began to trot towards Ink.

She winced once more (something she found herself doing frequently in this dream), as she watched Ink throw his bloody side into a door, desperately trying to open it. He gritted his teeth; exhaustion via exsanguination. A sickening tone had dyed his pelt, blood and soot simultaneously marring his snow-white coat.

When at last Ink got the door open, he was horrified at the scene before him. A teenaged Vinyl sat atop the bed, nestled tightly between her slightly-charred parents. A peaceful look overtook her as she gazed down at Ink; wordlessly communicating her acceptance to her friend. She heard him scream as he tried to charge forward, never quite reaching the bed.

A crash.

A scream.

When Vinyl hopped down through the hole in her parent’s bedroom, she was met with the single most mortifying scene that had ever befallen her. There sat Ink, a large slat of twisted metal protruding from his torso. Vinyl watched the room go blurry as she wept; only slightly masking the macabre performance that was unfolding.

Vinyl heard him cough; a sticky, wet, sound following as blood started to slowly seep from the sides of his mouth. She saw his head turn slightly, slowly finding the place that the unconscious younger Vinyl had fallen. He choked down a scream of agony; his hooves barely finding grip on the blood-slickened steel. She watched in horror as he slowly tore the piece from his side, tossing it to the side with a clang.

Ink slowly stumbled over; head light and vision blurred from blood loss. He choked back the bile that had slowly built up in his throat, it easily washed down the river of blood he was now swallowing. Vinyl watched as he tried his damnedest not to throw up, frowning slightly as he heaved a crimson spray. He wiped his mouth, further staining his ashen coat.

When at last he made his way to Vinyl, Ink found himself unable to levitate her. He slowly slid underneath her; blood and soot transferring between the two coats. It was almost too much for him to bear as he slowly lifted Vinyl; his legs almost giving out numerous times. Ink’s head had long since gone dark, making him sure of only two things:

He needed to get Vinyl out....

And if he took too long, He’d bleed out, and they’d both die...

Ink gritted his teeth, slowly taking a few steps forward. They had landed just out of the entryway that Ink has busted in through, giving him a pretty good idea on how he was going to get the two of them out. He staggered once more towards the shattered window, ignoring the (almost literally) Blinding pain that was stemming from his side.

As fast as his semi-bloodless body could, he got the two of them perched on the window sill. Vinyl watched as Ink slowly slumped out of the window; her younger self in tow. She looked about the room, taking what she hoped would be her last look at the burning home. She slowly trotted to where the ceiling had collapsed, rummaging through the wreckage until she had found what she wanted: Her parents.

Vinyl choked back sobs as she stared down at the two badly-burnt bodies that were at her hooves. She could faintly make out details of her parents, making this grisly experience all the worse. She slowly lowered her head, finally ready to bring closure to the situation. When at last she found the nerve, she slowly began to speak...

“M-Mom...? D-Dad..? I... I’m sorry... I wasn’t there... And... You’re...”

Vinyl was weeping heavily as she spoke; her voice wavering and cracking as she said what she needed too. She took her glasses off, squinting slightly as her eyes adjusted to the intense light that was coming from the flames around her. She looked down at her parents; tears starting to drip on the charred ponies as she resumed her speech.

“I’m just so sorry... But I want you to know... I never gave up... My dream of becoming a world famous Dj? I’m... Still working on it... Here I am, almost six years later... And Mom..? I told him... I finally told Ink... Just... Like you said I should... And...”

Vinyl heard the building start to finally collapse around her, signaling to her that it was almost time to leave this wretched nightmare. She turned back to two of them, wiping her eyes as she recollected herself. For some reason, she didn’t think that they’d have wanted her to break down. For some reason... She just couldn’t bring herself to fall apart.

“I guess this means I have to go now... But... I just hope that I would’ve made you proud... And... You know I love you two, right..? I mean, wherever you are... I just want you to know... That... I’m alright... And that... I’m so grateful for what the two of you did...”

With that, Vinyl felt the upper floor start to collapse, giving her the proverbial “Last call!” to escape this wretched place. She turned around, looking back only once as she dove haphazardly through the broken window. Like something out of a bad action movie, she soared through the open space; the house literally crumbling mere centimeters behind her. What she saw in the snow shocked her; this being the one part of the dream she never made it too.

Ink sat in the snow next to the younger rendition of herself, softly stroking his bloody hoof through her disheveled mane. A sang a soft song, just too quiet for Vinyl to make out the words. He was holding his side; a slight wince on his face every few seconds as he applied pressure to the gaping wound. She slowly made her way around him, horrified by the scene before her.

A very gory Ink sat, looking out onto the street, still singing softly to himself. A small smile was etched onto his visage; his eyes pale and lifeless. She saw him cough up more blood, simply spitting it onto the ground beside him. She watched him look up; a slight chuckle escaping his lips.

Snow had begun to fall, small white flakes dancing around in the frigid air. Ink seemed mesmerised by the phenomena, looking quite like a filly who had just witnessed their first snowfall. He held out a bloody hoof, catching a few flakes, only to watch them melt and dissolve into the crimson liquid. He looked down at his side, sighing as the bleeding continued. He turned to look down at Vinyl, leaning close to her as he began to speak. It was little more than a whisper, but what Vinyl heard would change her for the rest of her life:

“Looks like... I don’t have much time left. But hey, at least it was fun, right? I mean, we had a lot of good times... Do you remember the one where you first brought that turntable home..? Goddesses, your pa was so pissed... And, do you recall...”

Ink found himself running out of air; a slow creeping of liquid slowly filling it’s place. His smile weakened as he lay atop her; blood slowly dripping down onto her mane. He slowly stopped his stroking; content that he had done enough. He slowly let out his final words, falling atop her in a lifeless fashion as she heard a faint whisper escape his lips.

“Hey Vinyl..? Did you know... That I love you..?”

Vinyl’s eyes snapped open; tears spilling down onto the stallion below. For a while, it was all she could do to not wake Ink with he sobbing. Eventually though, she started to calm down; something that was soon reversed.

As her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark room, she could faintly make out a thick line that ran just under Ink’s fur. ”That was where he was impaled..”, she thought to herself; tears running down her cheeks as she slowly ran her hoof over the mark. Thankfully, Ink’s thicker coat covered up the scar quite well, leaving it near-invisible to the eye. Vinyl traced it back and forth; tears spilling all the while from her crimson eyes.

When at last she was confident that the tears had subsided, Vinyl found herself much in need of a glass of water. Her sandpaper-lined throat burned horribly as she choked back sobs, leaving a raw feeling behind. She slowly pulled herself out of Ink’s grip, making sure not to wake the sleeping artist as she rose.

She looked down at him once before leaving, a worried frown on her face. An equally worried look sat upon his visage, half hidden behind his thick black hair. He squirmed a bit at the sudden lack of weight atop him, quickly finding another position. Vinyl simply shook her head, leaving Ink to his dreams. Her hooves echoed quietly along the floors of the hallway; deadening once she had reached the kitchen.

It took some time, but Ink finally came to. Hoof steps echoed off of tile floors; the sickly scent of sterilization hanging in the air. He couldn’t recall the events that succeeded the escape from Vinyl’s foalhood home, as the memories were lost in a hazy cloud in the back of his mind. He tried to focus, his eyes coming in and out of dilation as his body slowly shifted back into working order.

A soft knocking came from the door to the right side of his generic hospital room; the door opening shortly after. A mare stepped into the room, looking about slightly before settling on Ink. Her coat was a muted pink, almost white in the dim light of the late afternoon. Her mane, a two-tone lavender and white, was pulled into a neat bun; the nurse’s hat completing the “look” of a generic Manehatten nurse.

“Ah, so I see you’re awake! Good, good!”, she practically sang in an accent as thick as honey. It was a sweet and melodious voice; a fact completely lost on Ink. He tried to put a hoof to his head, instead finding it tied down and filled with all kinds of tubes.

The mare moved over to his Left side, a fresh IV drip bobbing up and down next to her as she trotted closer. She hummed a familiar tune; a haunting melody that Ink couldn’t quite hear, but knew he had heard before. He watched the mare (that he assumed was a nurse) fiddle with the drip, taking the old back down and replacing it with a fresh one.

Once she was satisfied that the IV was securely in place, she slowly trotted to the end of the bed. A small clipboard was pulled from the edge of the bed, and she began flipping through the four or five pages that were clipped to it. More than a few times, Ink found himself the subject of puzzling glances, leaving him unsure of how to react.

The Nurse replaced the clipboard, shaking her head slightly as she turned; tending to the machines and needles that Ink felt holding his life. The nurse muttered something that Ink couldn’t hear, rolling her eyes and flipping a few switches on a machine just out of view.

“You know, you’ve had quite a few visitors since you first got dropped here. You’re some kinda hero, ‘ya know?”. The nurse winked at him, shaking her head before returning to the end of his bed. “That makes ‘ya mighty popular with mares, I’ve noticed. ‘Sides the one stallion that showed up your second day, s’been nothin’ but mares.”

It was clear that she was going to continue talking, until she was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. Without hesitation, or waiting for an answer, the door was thrusted open. A large earth pony strutted through the open space; humming that same quiet melody. He wore a thick white lab coat, covering the majority of his chocolate brown fur.

“Goooooood morning sunshine!” the doctor sang out in a pleasing baritone. He turned to look at Ink; a grin that seemed almost too large for his face plastered across his visage. “Glad to see you’re on this side of the dirt, son! You were in a pretty bad way when they dragged your sorry flank in here, but thanks to the marvels of modern medical magic, we managed to patch you up as best we could... Still the matter of that giant hole that you walked in here with. We couldn’t right do much about that, so we just sewed it up. Gunna leave a nasty scar, yea... But hey, at least you’re alive, eh?”

The mile-a-minute pace that the doctor was rambling on in proved too much for the still disoriented Ink, who quickly tuned him out. Absentmindedly, Ink lifted the sheets to his hospital bed. He stared down, silently observing the long pink line that marred his right side. The stitchwork seemed fresh; the puffy pink skin seemingly stressed by the small blue sutures. Surprisingly, the wound didn’t hurt as much as he would’ve expected. In fact, he noticed that absolutely nothing hurt, a fact that he was mildly perplexed by.

The doctor seemed satisfied, eventually quieting down and giving Ink a second to “let things sink in”. Not that Ink was really paying attention anyways. He looked up at the doc, doing his best to act like he had been listening the entire time. He nodded in “agreement”, much to the apparent satisfaction of the doctor. Ink winced as the doctor laughed again, this time on his way out. The nurse slowly followed suit; giving Ink a once-over and a wink before trotting out and closing the door behind her.

Ink slouched back down into the hospital bed, pulling the thin covers higher. He wanted to sleep; wanted all of this to go away. He didn’t even remember what he had done to get stuck into this wretched hospital in the first place, let alone what in tartarus he had done to his side. His eyes grew heavy, only egged on further by the quiet beeping of the heart monitor, and the faint in-out sound of the machines to help him breathe.

Ink awoke with a start, a loud yelling somewhere outside of his hospital room shattering his medicated sleep. “Is it true?! Is he really awake?!” he could make out, in a voice that sounded a lot like Vinyl...

“Come onnnnn! Let me see Ink! Don’t be such a damn stooge, I have a lot to say to him!”

Yep. Definitely Vinyl.

The door was violently thrust open, making a loud crashing noise as it was practically kicked open. The sounds of multiple ponies yelling could be heard behind her, each one shouting something along the lines of “You shouldn’t go in there”. Vinyl laughed, kicking the door closed with her back hoof and using magic to lock the heavy deadbolt behind her.

Vinyl’s usual air of cockiness was absent, replaced instead by a heavy aura of sadness. Her foreleg length hair was likewise missing, a choppy bob taking it’s place instead. She peered at him from under her bangs; red eyes cutting deeply into his still-recovering psyche. As much as he wanted to, he found himself unable to look away.

Slowly, she trotted over to him; tears already welling along the sides of her crimson eyes. She silently stopped at his bedside, seemingly trying to find a way to lower the side rail. A minute or two later, Ink found a small grin on her face; something that was met with the quiet sound of the guard rail sliding to the side of the bed.

The bed complained softly as Vinyl slowly hefted her weight up next to Ink, whom had already moved over slightly. She curled around him, shuddering out a sigh into his collar. Choked out sobs could be heard from the mare below him, leaving Ink even more confused than before. Hesitantly, Ink pulled a hoof around the crying Vinyl; completely unsure of what to do next. He contemplated asking her what was wrong, but she spoke before he had the chance to take action.

“They’re... They’re gone, Ink... Ma and Pa... They’re...” Vinyl quietly cried, slightly muffled by Ink’s coat. “And... When they brought you in... They said that... You probably weren’t gunna make it... And... I just... I can’t lose you, Ink. Please don’t go anywhere... I’ve already lost so much... Please don’t let me lose you!”.

Ink sighed; trying his best to figure out what in the world the grieving mare was talking about. He slowly ran his hoof through Vinyl’s considerably shorter mane, trying his best to silently comfort his friend. She stiffened at his touch, shuddering softly for a considerable amount of time before she started to relax into him.

It was at that moment that they heard the door open, and a very familiar voice flowed through.

“Well gee, isn’t that cute?”

Dreams pt 2

Dreams pt 2

Ink felt Vinyl jump; obviously startled by the unexpected intrusion. The pair turned their head, both surprised at whose gaze they returned. Vinyl’s best friend, Octavia, was leaning against the door frame; a small grin settled on her visage.

“Absolutely heartwarming, isn’t it? The stallion who recently awoke from his short-lived coma, comforting the mare that just lost her parents. It’d be so damn cute, if I didn’t hate that kind of thing. C’mon Vinyl, the carriage is waiting out front. If you’re coming with me, then we need to go now.”

Wow. Rude.

Before Ink had any time to react to what Octavia had just said, he felt Vinyl’s body weight disappear from his side. She slowly placed her hooves on the floor, sniffling and wiping her eyes on her foreleg. She slowly hopped from the bed, her hooves landing with a few small clicks. Ink felt a small pain in his chest as Vinyl turned to him; Tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes hidden behind her thick Dj glasses. He saw Vinyl mouth a few words to him, before she trotted over to the door, leaving without looking back. Octavia winked at Ink, trotting out and closing the door behind her as she left.

As the next few weeks of Ink’s hospitalization passed, the visits from the pair of mares slowly started to fall out. Any time the pair would visit, they’d be outwardly hostile to each other, eventually becoming too much for the medicated Ink to handle. After a while, the pair finally stopped visiting together; a heavy tension apparent between the two “friends”.

“...And I just... I dunno, Ink. I can’t stay with her anymore. She’s fuckin’ horrid, I’m tellin’ ya!”. Vinyl was visiting on her way to Octavia’s after getting out of school for the day. It was the same as every visit was; nothing more than the two of them passing small talk under a heavily awkward air. Part of Ink thought that Vinyl was just visiting because she blamed herself for him being in here.

“Well... you know...” Ink started, trying to think of the proper way to word what he was thinking. “If it’s really that bad... why not come to canterlot with me? The folks are letting me have the second house there while I’m in art school. If it’s... Not too much trouble getting your schooling situation figured out... why don’t you... uh... come with me..? I’m getting discharged at the end of the week, you know...”

Stars pale in comparison to how bright Vinyl’s face grew after she had let Ink’s offer settle. It didn’t take her long to agree to his offer, her mood instantly shifting. She was as giddy as a schoolfilly at the idea; something that Ink was very relieved to see. It had felt like ages since Ink had seen Vinyl smile, not that she really had any reason too.

Vinyl turned to him on her way out, grinning wildly as she began to speak. “But.. yea... I’ll make sure that all the stuff is switched over by the end of the week. We can ride over together! You’re not going to regret this, I’ll be sure of it!”. She blushed a little bit, before quickly adding in a much quieter tone “ And Ink..? Thanks. This means the world to me...”.

The end of the week came, And Ink found himself at last being discharged from Manehatten’s First General Hospital. Ink slowly donned his hat and scarf; replacing all of his piercings after his last hospital shower. He happily heard his hooves click on the sterile tile as he made his way to the front desk. He left his parent’s address for the nurse at the desk, telling them simply to “Send the bill, it’ll be payed for with extra”, before slowly trotting through the front doors.

Spring had settled in the time that Ink had been in the hospital; something that Ink was incredibly pleased with. The warm spring air felt like velvet against Ink’s fur, further prompting a smile from the young artist. Vinyl was likewise smiling from her seat in the pegasi taxi. She waved him over; practically bouncing in place as Ink made his way over.

“Alright you lovebirds, hold on tight!”, the pegasi said in a thick baltimare accent. Ink slouched back comfortably; allowing Vinyl to cuddle up against him for the first time in what felt like forever. Satisfied that his passengers were comfortable, the pegasi started to gain speed.

The air felt amazing as it whipped through Ink’s mane. The pitch-black locks flowed happily in the wind, joined by two scarves and a technicolor butcher’s work of hair. He looked over at Vinyl, who was staring off into the sky happily. “It’s great to see her in such a good mood. It’s so rare to see her like that since... whatever happened, happened...” Ink thought to himself. It was true enough; Vinyl had been incredibly depressed lately, as befitting of one losing their parents in such a horrible way. Vinyl tapped Ink on his shoulder, bringing him back to earth. She didn’t say anything, instead motioning to the city that was rapidly approaching them.

Canterlot.

Ink’s home.

Their home.

The taxi flyer was pretty surprised when he found out that Vinyl was going to be moving in with Ink. “Yer parents, they’re ahright wit this, right?”. Ink made sure to be casual with his lie; telling the stallion that his parents were completely alright with the idea of Vinyl moving in with him. In truth, Ink hadn’t said anything to them about it. He had decided against it the moment that he had invited Vinyl in. After all, he was a fully-grown stallion, wasn’t he? It was his home, and he was going to do what he wished with it.

Ink slowly took his key from the inside of his hat, much to the surprise of Vinyl. Ink shrugged off the wild look that she was giving him; instead unlocking the door to let the two inside. The door opened without resistance, quietly gliding on oiled hinges. Ink motioned Vinyl inside, quietly closing the door behind them.

The pair found themselves alone in the quiet home; quiet breathing being the only escape from total silence that could be found. Ink attempted to break the silence by quietly coughing; trotting forward. He motioned Vinyl to come with him, not waiting to see if she actually followed him.

Quiet hoofsteps on the teak told Ink that his wishes had indeed been heeded. He slowly led Vinyl around the house, showing her the in’s and out’s of the somewhat larger home, before finally leading her to the area that she’d be staying in. “I really don’t feel like switching my room out, so you’re going to get the master.” Ink silently added as he opened the door to the huge master suite.

Vinyl’s eyes grew wide; suddenly visible behind her dark glasses. “Ink... are you... are you sure about this..? I mean... I dunno... I don’t want to be a hassle or anyth-”. He cut her off, quickly bringing her into a tight embrace. He silently assured her that all was well; practically feeling Vinyl melt between his hooves. When at last he pulled away, a full crimson blush could be seen under Vinyl’s cream fur.

Heavy breathing could be heard; the obvious source being Vinyl. Tears were silently streaming from under her glasses, complementing the subtle shaking that was coming from the young Dj. She practically tackled Ink; driving him hard to the floor and tightening her hooves around him. Ink didn’t know what hit him as he was quickly taken to the floor, sending sharp pains along his side.

Ink inhaled sharply; biting back tears and profanities in an effort to keep Vinyl this close. For being “just friends”, like Vinyl and Ink had to explain to many different stallions and mares, Ink loved every second of similar situations. Vinyl intoxicated the young artist;a drug.

The two found themselves laying on the floor; Ink running a hoof through Vinyl’s mane. Ink wasn’t yet used to just how short it had become, so he felt odd running his hoof through what felt like only ‘half way’. He felt Vinyl once again crying into his chest; her warm tears forming damp areas in his fur.

“Ink... Ink..”

The artist looked around, obviously confused as to the source. He looked at the young Vinyl in his hooves, who was still silently crying. A new pain found it’s way into his side, breaking him from his slumber.

Ink opened his eyes; quickly being greeted by two bloody pools. Vinyl was mere inches from him, staring intently down. She kissed his nose quickly; blushing heavily and pulling back.

She stared out the window onto Celestia’s rising sun, sighing happily. “You know, Ink... I’m not going to be doing anything later...”

“...”

“And... well... I was thinking that we... could... uhm...”

“Dinner and a movie..?”

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter (Pretty sure it's about half the length of my usual chapters), but this one was just to wrap up last week's. I lost a bit of my flow halfway through, so the overall chapter suffered. Released it early 'cause it was done.

Look forward to next week's!

-Vetter.Sonata

The end.

The end.

Glancing up at the clock, Ink impatiently tapped a hoof on the ground. They were going to be late to dinner if Vinyl didn’t hurry up. He sighed quietly, trying his best not to knock on the bathroom door for what felt like the millionth time. In reality, it would really only be the seventh, but even that felt quite extensive to the impatient artist.

After this morning’s somewhat awkward wake up, Ink had made reservations at Manehatten’s finest Istallion restaurant that he could; even pulling in favors and using his status to get past week long waiting lists. When he broke the news to Vinyl, she practically broke his ribs with her hugs. Ink was practically shaking with excitement. Or was that impatience? He could never tell.

After what had felt like a lifetime had passed, Ink dared to look at the clock again. Two minutes had passed. Only two minutes. Ink groaned loudly, shattering the silence with his cry of boredom. He quietly trotted to his bathroom, determined to drag Vinyl out and get the two of them out to dinner. As he raised his hoof to knock however, the door swung open; leaving Ink to pick his jaw up from the polished hardwood floor.

Any trace of the tomcolt-ish mare that Ink had previously known had been erased, leaving only a gorgeous symbol of equine beauty. Her choppy mane had been curled and styled; now hugging and framing her face in a very effeminate manner. A tight black dress hugged every curve of her shapely cream body; yet again knocking Ink’s jaw to the floor. Her ruby eyes were done with orange shadow, wrapping the entire package up in just the right manner.

“Here there, lover-colt. What’s with that look? You’re gawkin’ at me like you’ve never seen me or something!”. Vinyl giggled, drinking in Ink’s surprise. She turned in a circle; slapping Ink with her likewise curled tail as she passed. “Oh, is Inky here not used to seeing Vee dressed up? Well drink it up, lover-colt! This shit ain’t happenin’ too often, ‘ya here?”. She leaned forward, kissing him softly, before nuzzling into him. “But Ink? I’m glad we’re doing this...”

“Damn Vinyl, you’re going to have a lot of stallions sleeping on the sofa tonight...”. The couple were currently being led to their table; a small seat located towards the back of the restaurant. Ink couldn’t help but notice the extra “oomph” in Vinyl’s step, which was drawing her quite a bit of attention from other males in the restaurant (not to mention a few mares, as well).

Vinyl only continued to surprise Ink; speaking to the waiter in a very fluent Istallion. Before Ink had even had time to look at his menu, he found it removed from his hooves, no doubt due to Vinyl’s short conversation. “I...uh... Hope you’re alright with the house lasagna... He said it was already ready and...”. Vinyl’s less-than-feminine demeanor was made even less feminine; her stomach eliciting a loud rumble. “And... uh... that.”

It didn’t take long for the waiter to return; two plates of food and a bottle of wine levitating atop a tray at his side. Without much to say, he slowly lowered the plates, letting them quietly settle in front on the pair. Ink raised an eyebrow across the table at Vinyl as the wine was poured; getting little more than a nod and a blush in return. Vinyl conversed with the waiter, who looked over at Ink and blushed, before quickly replying back in a hushed tone. Vinyl laughed, waving the waiter off. A nod and a bow later, and the waiter was off.

“What was that all about, eh?” , Ink questioned; getting little more than a confused grin in return. “I’m.. uh... Not sure what you’re talking about there, Inky. Not sure at all...”. Vinyl giggled, slowly lowering her napkin to her lap; her fork levitating just short of her piled-high plate.

“They really don’t let you go hungry here, do they?” Vinyl inquired, tracing circles in the air around her food. “Well, for the bits I have to pay for it... They sure as hell better not.” Ink said, sipping the slightly tart cherry wine. He let it sit in his mouth for a moment; savoring the slightly alcoholic taste. He watched as Vinyl tore viciously at her food, deciding after a while to join her.

“Goddesses damn, that was a good meal!” Vinyl practically shouted; her voice quickly lost in the cold manehattan air. After the dinner that had cost Ink a small mountain of bits, the two had quickly gained their bearings and departed. Next on Ink’s list was supposed to be a movie. Supposed to be.

“Hey Ink, why don’t we just go back home? I know ‘ya got this whole romantic stuff all planned out, but... I dunno.” She shrugged, scuffing her hoof along the ground; her horseshoe making a distinct metallic scrape as she kicked idly. “Maybe we should just go back. I mean, it’s gettin’ late, ‘n we should just...”. A small sigh came from Vinyl’s lips.

“Look, this whole romantic thing ‘ya got goin’ here? It’s just not me, Ink. I thought that you of all people would know that. I’m the mare in your basement, who’s content to get you drunk and ride your bones. I’m really not feminine, I guess is what I’m trying to say.” She looked at him, her deep red eyes rimmed slightly with tears. “And I’m just... Not comfortable with having to say this. You went out of your way for this... You like, just spent a friggin’ sack of bits back there. Only for me to say that it’s not my style..?”. She stepped forward, her lips meeting Ink’s in a warm embrace.

The kiss lasted mere moments; spanning a metaphorical lifetime in the matter of seconds. The pair found themselves at a loss for breath and words as they pulled away. Ink felt his heart pound in his chest, something that Vinyl obviously reflected. It wasn’t long before the pair rushed to meet again; fiery passion fueling their every motion.

Vinyl’s lips were soft and smooth against Inks. Her tongue slid through his teeth, catching him off guard. Pushing into the kiss; Ink found himself leading the charge. The pair wrestled tongues for a while, just content to play for the middle ground. When at last Vinyl succumed to Ink’s force; she found herself in a much different position.

The pair slowly trotted; lips still locked in a heated expression. Vinyl moaned quietly into Ink’s mouth, pushing him slightly in the direction that she decided upon. When at last they stopped, Ink found himself in a very interesting position.

The concrete wall at his back was uncomfortable at best; the Mare at his mouth greatly compensation for the harsh stone. She pushed into him, pressing her muzzle into his with a passionate force. The vague taste of food and wine could be detected as their tongues wrestled; a fresh departure from the horrid concoction that Ink was used to.

The pair pulled away once more; breath visibly hanging stagnantly in the frosty air. “Ink...”, he swore he heard her whisper. Tears had unexpectedly started to well in the mare’s eyes. “I’m leaving tomorrow...”.

“L-leaving..?”

“Tomorrow... I’m going to Canterlot... There’s a record producer that wants to work with me...”. She blinked; a single tear sliding down her face. “I’m... I’m probably not going to be coming back...”. She chuckled slightly; a pitiful sound. “I’m so sorry Ink... Just when I finally get the guts to confess to you, I get this email... And I mean... I just... I need to do this Ink... This is... This is my life. This is what I’ve worked at...”

Ink stepped back, feeling quite like he’d just been smacked. Vinyl was leaving? He felt the food in his stomach forcefully lurch. He swallowed harshly; fighting the urge to puke. He felt so crushed. She was just... leaving?! It was too sudden! It was too much for him to take. He felt his cheeks grow wet.

Tears.

He was crying.

He looked back at Vinyl, who was quietly sobbing. She was practically falling apart in front of him; something that didn’t really register to him. He quietly put his hooves around her, stroking her mane as she sobbed into his shoulder. He could feel her eyeliner run into his coat; running and wetting him with her tears. She let out a sob, anguish filling her quiet scream.

“Why?! Why does it always have to happen like this?! Why do I always ruin things like this?!”, she screamed into his shoulder. Ink didn’t put forth to answer; instead letting the words hang heavy in the air. He choked down a sob of his own, finally letting the weight of her words settle in. He felt the tears slowly trail down his face; creating a damp spot in Vinyl’s styled mane. The pair sobbed quietly for a while, just content to cry.

That had been almost a month ago. Time passed so fast for Ink. Vinyl moved out, The house grew quiet, and Ink quietly returned to his art. As pathetic as it seemed to him, sales on his work were at an all time high. All of the emotion that had come with Vinyl’s departure had been thrown into his work. It had left him drained; both physically and emotionally. He had decided that he needed a break. He needed to get out of the city, and more specifically: The house that he spent so many years with Vinyl in.

It didn’t take him long to find a small town a few hours south of Canterlot, the place that he’d decided he needed to pay a visit. He said it was for closure, but even he didn’t believe that. Ponyville was a quaint country town; and from what Ink had heard: probably the best place for him to continue his work. As he finished packing the up the last of his house, he took one more look about the place, leaving him feeling just as the house had become.

Empty.